Flexible row crop header for an agricultural harvester

ABSTRACT

A row crop header for a harvester having a subframe removably coupleable to a feeder housing of the harvester. A pivot assembly is supported by the subframe permitting first and second header sections to pivotably move between raised and lowered positions together or independently of the other. A cross-auger center suspension assembly rotateably supports one end of the first cross-auger section and one end of the second cross-auger section as the first and second header sections pivotally move between the raised and lowered positions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/798,253,filed Oct. 30, 2017, which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser.No. 14/585,126, filed Dec. 29, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,801,343, whichis a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/165,463, filedJan. 27, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,919,086, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/850,515 filed Aug. 4, 2010, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,635,842, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/231,487 filed Aug. 5, 2009.

BACKGROUND

Combine harvesters or combines are equipped with removable heads or“headers” that are designed for harvesting particular types of crops. A“platform header” is typically used for cereal grains such as soybeansand various cereal crops such as wheat, oats and barley. A platformheader is equipped with a reciprocating knife cutter bar and has arevolving reel which forces the cut crop into the header as the combineadvances. A cross auger forces the cut grain into the feeder house ofthe combine where the grain is threshed and separated from the cut stalkand other crop chaff “Draper headers” are similar to platform headers inthat they utilize a reciprocating cutter bar and a revolving reel.However, instead of a cross auger, the draper header uses a fabric orrubber apron to feed the cut grain into the feeder house. Headers forrow crops, particularly corn headers, are equipped with forwardlyextending conical snouts which extend between the corn rows. Whereadjacent snouts of the corn header converge, instead of cutting thestalk like a platform or draper header, adjacent stalk rollers pinch andpull the stalk downwardly stripping the corn ear from the stalk, so thatthe stalks pass under the header leaving primarily only the ear and huskenter the feeder house.

When combining or harvesting different crops using any of the foregoingtypes of headers, the header is typically operated at a heightsufficiently low to the ground to ensure that the lowermost grain acrossthe width of the header is not missed. As the crop varies in height oras the terrain varies across the field, the combine operator must adjustthe height of the header up or down to ensure that the lowermost grainis not missed while also ensuring that no portion of the header runsaground.

Platform and draper headers can extend up to forty or more feet inwidth. Accordingly, to account for variations in terrain across thewidth of the header, especially for harvesting soybeans and other cropsthat have pods close to the ground, flexible platform and draper headershave been developed which utilize a cutter bar that flexes to betterfollow the contours of the terrain. However, heretofore, no such“flexible” header has yet been developed for row crops, particularlycorn headers. With advances in combine technology, twelve and sixteenrow corn headers have become common place and even twenty four rowheaders are now available. As a result, with corn headers nowapproaching the widths of platform and draper headers, there is now aneed for corn headers to flex, bend or articulate so as to more closelyfollow the contours of the terrain to avoid missing corn.

For example, referring to FIG. 5, when combining over the crest of ahill with a large header of twelve rows or more, it may not be possibleto lower the header sufficiently to avoid missing ears at the far endsof the header without running the header aground at the middle of theheader. Likewise, referring to FIG. 6, when combining in a trough orvalley between hills, it may not be possible to lower the headersufficiently to avoid missing ears in the middle of the header withoutrunning the header aground on the upwardly sloping hills at the far endsof the header.

While lateral tilt headers serve their intended purposes for operatingon relatively uniform or consistent grades, the ability of the header totilt laterally from side-to-side is not much more beneficial than aconventional fixed or non-titling header for harvesting on rollingterrain. For example, referring back to FIGS. 5 and 6, it should beappreciated that having the ability to laterally tilt the header to oneside or the other will provide little or no benefit when harvesting overthe crest of a hill as in FIG. 5 or in a valley as in FIG. 6. Similarly,referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, when combining along the base of a hill,even when the header is tilted laterally and in the lower most positionwithout running the header aground at the far ends, the ears in the cornrows in the middle of the header may still be missed.

Accordingly, for harvesting row crops on rolling terrain, there is aneed for a row crop header, particularly a corn header, that articulatesor flexes so that sections of the header can be raised and lowered tomore closely follow the terrain to avoid missing rows as the combinetraverses the field.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional combine harvester with aconventional fixed corn head or a lateral tilt corn head in thehorizontal position.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the combine and corn head of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are front views of a conventional combine with aconventional lateral tilt.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a conventional header in the horizontalposition on the crest of a hill and showing how the ears in the cornrows at the ends of the header will be missed because the corn ears arebelow the stalk rollers.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a conventional header in the horizontalposition in a valley between hills and showing how the ears in the cornrows in the middle of the header will be missed because the corn earsare below the stalk rollers.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are illustrations of a conventional header at the base ofa hill and showing how the ears in the corn rows in the middle of theheader will be missed because the corn ears are below the stalk rollers.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the combine of FIG. 1 but with an embodimentof a flexible header in accordance with the claimed invention in thenormal or level position.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the combine and flexible header of FIG. 9with the right side of the header raised.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the combine and flexible header of FIG. 9with the right side of the header lowered.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the combine and flexible header of FIG. 9with the left side of the header raised.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the combine and flexible header of FIG. 9with the left side of the header lowered.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the combine and flexible header of FIG. 9with both the left end and right sides of the header raised.

FIG. 15 is a front view of the combine and flexible header of FIG. 9with both the left end and right sides of the header lowered.

FIG. 16 is an illustration of the flexible header of FIG. 9 on the crestof a hill and showing how, with the left and right sides of the headerlowered, no ears will be missed because all corn ears across all of therows of the header are above the stalk rollers.

FIG. 17 is an illustration of the flexible header of FIG. 9 in thevalley between hills and showing how, with the left and right sides ofthe header raised, no ears will be missed because all corn ears acrossall of the rows of the header are above the stalk rollers.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are illustrations of the flexible header of FIG. 9 atthe base of a hill and showing how, with one side of the header raisedand the other side level, no ears will be missed because all the cornears across all of the rows of the header are above the stalk rollers.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a centerpivot assembly of the flexible header of FIG. 9.

FIG. 21 is a front view of the center pivot assembly of FIG. 20 andheader frame in the normal or level position.

FIG. 22 is a front view of the center pivot assembly of FIG. 20 andheader frame with the left and right ends in the lowered position.

FIG. 23 is a front view of the center pivot assembly of FIG. 20 andheader frame with the left and right ends in the raised position.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the augercenter mount of the header of FIG. 9.

FIG. 25 is a rear elevation view of the left side of the flexible headerof FIG. 9 illustrating a preferred embodiment of the top and bottomslide bracket assemblies.

FIG. 26 is a rear elevation view of the left side of the flexible headerof FIG. 9 in the raised position showing the relative movement of thetop and bottom slide bracket assemblies with respect to the slide plate.

FIG. 27 is a rear elevation view of the left side of the flexible headerof FIG. 9 in the lowered position showing the relative movement of thetop and bottom slide bracket assemblies with respect to the slide plate.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the top slide bracket assembly andthe slide plate as viewed along lines 28-28 of FIG. 25.

FIG. 29 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the hydraulicsystem for the flexible header of FIG. 9 wherein the left and rightssides of the header are raised and lowered together.

FIG. 30 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the hydraulicsystem for the flexible header of FIG. 9 wherein the left and rightsides are raised and lowered independently of each other.

DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1illustrates a conventional combine harvester 10 with a conventional cornhead or header 12 mounted thereto in a conventional manner. As istypical, the header 12 includes a plurality of fore-and-aft extendingrow units 14. In the illustration of FIG. 1, the header 12 isillustrated as a twelve-row header, in that there are twelve channels orspaces 16 formed between adjacent row units 14 into which the cornstalks in each row are gathered as the combine advances.

As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,309 to Mossman, which isincorporated herein in its entirety by reference, each row unit 14comprises a semi-conical rearwardly converging snout 18 and asemi-cylindrical rearward portion or hood 20. The snout 18 is typicallymade of polyethylene and includes a hardened or impact resistant pointor tip. The snout 18 is pivotally mounted by bolts or pins (notillustrated) to the semi-cylindrical hood 20 which is fixed relative tothe rest of the header. In operation, if the snout tip contacts theground surface, the snout 18 will pivot upwardly about the pins to avoiddamage to the snouts. A stop (not shown) prevents the snout 18 frompivoting downwardly past the general angle of the hood 20.

In operation, the combine 10 and header 12 are positioned such that eachsnout is between adjacent corn rows. As the combine advances in thedirection indicated by arrow 21, the corn stalks are gathered betweenthe rearwardly converging snouts 18. Stalk rolls (not visible)positioned below adjacent sides of the hoods 20 pinch and pull the stalkdownwardly to strip the ear from the corn stalk. Gatherer chains (notvisible), also positioned below adjacent sides of the hoods 20 act asconveyors to move the stripped loose ears rearwardly into the rotatingleft and right cross augers 22, 23. The cross augers 22, 23 move theears toward the feeder house inlet opening 24 in the back wall 25 of theheader 12. The ears then pass into the feeder house opening 24 and intothe feeder house 26 which conveys the ears into the interior of thecombine for threshing and shelling. The husks, the shelled cobs, andother unwanted crop debris are discharged out the rear of the combinewhile the shelled corn kernels are augured up into the holding tankuntil being unloaded.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, some combines are adapted to permit theheader to be tilted from side-to-side. These “lateral tilt headers,”such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,586 to Hanson et al. or U.S.Pat. No. 7,191,582 to Bomleny, both of which are incorporated herein intheir entirety by reference, are well known in the art. Fixed headersand lateral tilt headers are referred to throughout this specificationas “conventional headers” and are both designated by reference numeral12.

When harvesting under normal conditions, the header 12 is usuallyoperated at a height where the bottom of the snouts 18 are a shortdistance above the ground surface to ensure that the stalk rolls andgathering chains are positioned below the ears as the combine advancesand as the stalks are gathered between the snouts. However, whenharvesting on rolling terrain, particularly with wide headers of twelverows or more, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to position theheader without missing some of the ears in some rows across the width ofthe header while not running one side or the other aground, or themiddle of the header aground.

For example, FIG. 5 is an illustration of a conventional header on thecrest of a hill and showing how the ears in the corn rows at the ends ofthe header will be missed because the corn ears are below the stalkrollers. Similarly, FIG. 6 is an illustration of a conventional headerin a valley between hills and showing how the ears in the corn rows inthe middle of the header will be missed because the corn ears are belowthe stalk rollers. FIGS. 7 and 8 are illustrations of a conventionalheader at the base of a hill and showing how, even with the header 12tilted laterally, the ears in the corn rows in the middle of the headerwill still be missed because the corn ears are below the stalk rollers.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the combine of FIG. 1 but illustrating apreferred embodiment of a flexible corn head 100 coupled thereto inplace of the conventional corn head 12. Except as described in detaillater, the preferred flexible corn head 100 is substantially identicalto the conventional header 12, including the manner and method ofcoupling it to the combine 10, except that the flexible header 100preferably includes an additional subframe 200, a pivot assembly 300which cooperates with one or more actuators to move sections of theheader between raised and lowered positions, together or independently,and a modified auger center suspension assembly 400. The flexible header100 may be readily adapted from a conventional header 12 or it may be anoriginal equipment manufacture (OEM).

In comparing FIGS. 16-19 to FIGS. 5-8 it should be appreciated thathaving the ability to move sections or wings of the header up and downpermits the header to more closely follow the contours of the terrainthereby avoiding missed corn rows that occur with conventional headers12. When corn rows are missed, the operator is required to turn aroundin the field to separately pick the previously missed rows, resulting inwasted fuel and time, and thus, reducing profits.

Specifically, comparing FIG. 5 to FIG. 16, where the combine istraveling along the crest of a hill, with the conventional header 12(FIG. 5) at its lower most position without running aground in themiddle of the header, the ears at the far ends of the header will bemissed because the ears are below the stalk rollers. However, with theflexible header 100 (FIG. 16), the left and right wings of the headercan be lowered to more closely follow the crest of the hill, therebyensuring that the ears of the corn rows at the far ends of the headerare above the stalk rollers and will not be missed.

Likewise, comparing FIGS. 6 and 17, where the combine is traveling in avalley between hills, with the conventional header 12 (FIG. 6) at itslower most position without running aground at the far ends of theheader, the ears in the middle of the header will still be missedbecause the ears are below the stalk rollers. However, with the flexibleheader 100 (FIG. 17), both sides or wings of the header can be raised tomore closely follow the converging sides of the hill, thereby ensuringthat the ears of the corn rows in the middle of the header are above thestalk rollers and will not be missed.

Similarly, comparing FIGS. 7 and 8 to FIGS. 18 and 19, where the combineis traveling along the base of a hill, with the conventional header 12(FIGS. 7 and 8) at its lower most position without running aground atthe far ends of the header, the ears in the middle of the header will bemissed because the ears are below the stalk rollers. However, with theflexible header 100 (FIGS. 18 and 19), one side of the header can beraised while the other remains horizontal, to more closely follow theslope of the hill on the corresponding side of the combine, therebyensuring that the ears of the corn rows in the middle of the header areabove the stalk rollers and will not be missed.

Referring now to FIGS. 20-24, a preferred embodiment of a flexible cornheader 100 is illustrated. As previously stated, the flexible cornheader 100 is preferably substantially identical to the conventionalheader 12, including the manner and method of coupling it to the combine10, except that the flexible header 100 preferably includes anadditional subframe 200, a pivot assembly 300 and a modified augercenter suspension assembly 400 each of which is discussed in detailbelow.

As previously stated, the header 100 is preferably adapted from aconventional header 12, although the header 100 could be an OEMmanufacture. For purposes of this disclosure, the header 100 ishereinafter described and illustrated as a retrofit of an existing JohnDeere twelve row conventional header 12 that utilizes a central augersuspension system such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,333 which isincorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The retrofitted header12, includes a top beam 102 (best viewed in FIGS. 21 and 24), as well asan intermediate beam 104 (FIG. 20), bottom beam 106 (FIG. 20) and rowunit support beam 108 (FIG. 20), all of which extend the full width ofthe header. Posts 110 extend between the top beam 102 and theintermediate beam 104. The header 12 also includes a back wall 25 thatencloses the back side of the header except at the feeder house inlet24. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that depending onthe header make and model being retrofitted (or if it is an OEMmanufacture) particular structural components of the header referred toin this description may not be present or may have a differentconfiguration than shown and described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 24, a section of the top beam 102 isremoved to accommodate the subframe 200 (discussed below) and a sectionof the intermediate beam 104, bottom beam 106 and the row unit supportbeam 108 are removed to accommodate the pivot assembly 300 (discussedlater). Because a section of the intermediate and bottom beams 104, 106is removed, a stiffening plate 112 is preferably added to maintain thevertical spacing between the beams and the structural integrity of theheader.

The subframe 200 preferably comprises a top member 202, left and rightvertical members 204, 206 and a bottom member 208 welded together todefine an interior frame opening having dimensions preferablycorresponding in size to the feeder house inlet 24 of the header 100.Although not shown, the subframe 200 preferably includes or incorporatesrecesses to receive lugs and latch pins typical of conventionalquick-connect header mounts.

FIG. 25 is a rear view of the left side of the subframe 200. The rightside is a mirror image of the left side. A slide plate 210 extendsoutwardly from the left vertical member 204 and includes upper and lowerarcuate edges 212, 214. A wear plate 216 such as high molecular weight(BMW) polyethylene or like material is preferably secured by countersunktapping screws (not shown) or other suitably secure connection, to thefront face of the slide plate 210. The wear plate 216 reduces wear andfriction between overlapping surfaces (described later) as the headersections or wings are raised and lowered as best illustrated in FIGS.26-27.

It should be appreciated that because the center of gravity of theheader is forward of the subframe 200, and because the top beam 102 isno longer supported directly by the feeder house, the header 100 willtend to tip forwardly which would exert substantial bending stress onthe pivot pins of the pivot assembly 300 (discussed later). Accordingly,to reduce the amount of bending stress on the pivot pins, upper andlower slide brackets 220, 222 are provided to prevent the header fromtipping forwardly. As illustrated in FIGS. 25-27, these slide brackets220, 222 receive the arcuate edges 212, 214 of the slide plate 210respectively. FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the slide brackets220, 222 as viewed along lines 28-28 of FIG. 25. Each of the slidebrackets 220, 222 include a rear plate 224 that is secured by aplurality of threaded connectors 226 to a threaded spacer block 228welded to the face of the fill plate 230. Continuing to refer to FIG.28, a wear member 216 is also secured to the inside face of the rearplate 224 thereby sandwiching the slide plate 210 between front and backwear plates 216. As the wings of the header pivot about the pivot pinsas illustrated in FIGS. 26-27, the arcuate edge 212, 214 slide withinthe arcuate upper slide bracket 220 and the lower slide brackets 222,respectively.

Referring to FIG. 20, the pivot assembly 300 preferably comprises tworotatable or pivotable bushings 310, 312 disposed over parallel pins314, 316 fixedly secured at their rearward end to the bottom member 208of the subframe 200. Sleeves 318, 320 are disposed over the forward endsof the pins 314, 316 and are secured to a base plate 322 by verticalsupports 324, 326 thereby retaining the bushings 310, 312 on the pins314, 316. A lateral spacing plate 328 is also secured to the retainersleeves 318, 320 and to the base plate 322 thereby maintaining thelateral spacing and parallel relationship of the pins 314, 316 andbushings 310, 312. The bushings 310, 312 are thus able to freely pivotabout the stationary pins 314, 316. End caps 334, 336 are secured to thecut ends of the row unit supports 108 and to the bushings 310, 312. Therearward ends of the bushings 310, 312 are secured to the stiffenerplate 112. Additionally, gussets 338 are welded to the bushings 310, 312and to the intermediate and bottom beams 104, 106. Accordingly, itshould be appreciated that as viewed in FIG. 20, and as best illustratedin FIGS. 21-23, the left and right ends of the header 100 are pivotable,respectively, about the longitudinal axis 330, 332 of pins 314, 316 byactuation of the left and right actuators 302, 304.

In a preferred embodiment, the pins 314, 316 are preferably fabricatedfrom two 2½ inch diameter machined steel rods. The bushings 310, 312 arepreferably comprised of four inch outside diameter sleeves having a ¾inch wall thickness. The forward end sleeves 318, 320 are preferablycomprised of 3½ inch outside diameter sleeves having ½ inch wallthickness. The pins 314, 316 are preferably press fit into 2½ inchdiameter spaced holes drilled through bottom member 208 of the subframe200. The bottom member 208 is preferably fabricated from eight inch by1½ inch thick steel plate.

It should be appreciated that in order for the left and right sectionsof the header 100 to pivot about the axis 330, 332, the auger pan (notshown) must also be cut or split. However, in order to prevent the cornears and other crop debris from falling through and passing under thesplit auger pan when one end of the header is raised relative to theother, a vertical baffle plate 340 is provided which projects a shortdistance above the auger pan.

Referring to FIGS. 21-23, it should also be appreciated that the hood 20of the center row unit spans the pivot assembly 300. Thus, the hood 20of the center row should also be cut along its centerline to allow therespective sides of the hood to move relative to the other as each sideof the header is raised or lowered. To prevent the corn ears and othercrop debris from falling through the cut hood 20 of the center row, ahood cover plate (not shown) may be provided that is supported by thestationary vertical baffle plate 340 and which extends over the cutedges of the center row hood 20, thereby ensuring the cut edges of thecenter hood remain covered as they move below the stationary coverplate.

It should also be appreciated that in order for the left and right sidesor wings of the header 100 to pivot about the axis 330, 332, the leftand right cross auger sections 22, 23 must also move with theirrespective left and right header sections. Accordingly, referring toFIGS. 21-24, to permit the auger sections 22, 23 to move with the headersections, an auger center suspension assembly is required that moveswith the respective left and right header sections. A preferredembodiment of a auger center suspension assembly 400 is best illustratedin FIG. 24 in conjunction with FIGS. 21-23.

The preferred auger center suspension assembly 400 preferably comprisesleft and right top beam extensions 402, 404 (FIG. 24) welded to the cuttop beam 102 and extending inwardly toward the center of the header.Center support brackets 406, 408 are secured to the inward opposing endsof the beam extension 402, 404. The center support brackets 406, 408preferably include a dogleg to minimize the distance between theopposing end of the left and right auger sections 22, 23, therebyminimizing axial interruption of the auger flighting, while at the sametime preventing the brackets 406, 408 from interfering with each otheras the header sections are raised and lowered as best illustratedbetween FIGS. 22 and 23. Other than the dogleg, each center supportbracket 406, 408 preferably features the elements disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 4,300,333 previously incorporated herein by reference.

Continuing to refer to FIGS. 21-24, the edge 410 of the fill plate 230adjacent the feeder house inlet 24 is preferably cut at an angle, sothat when the left and right header sections are raised, the edge 410aligns with the inside edge of the subframe 200 (see FIG. 23). It shouldbe appreciated that when comparing FIGS. 21-23, if the edge 410 of thebackwall was not cut at an angle, the feeder house inlet opening wouldbe partially blocked by the inside edge of the backwall when either orboth sides of the header is raised.

FIG. 29 schematically illustrates one method of coupling the actuators302, 304 to the combine's hydraulic system. Hydraulic lines 502, 504 arecoupled at one end to the combine's hydraulic system 500 and at theother end to a flow control valve 506. Left and right cylinder lines508, 510 and left and right return lines 512, 514 are coupled betweenthe flow control valve 506 to the left and right actuators 302, 304,respectively. With the hydraulic circuit of FIG. 29, both cylinders 302,304 are actuated simultaneously such that both wings of the header raiseand lower together as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15. However if thecombine includes a lateral tilt feeder house, the feeder house can betilted to cause the opposite wing of the header to be level while theother wing is raised or lowered such as illustrated in FIGS. 10-13.

FIG. 30 schematically illustrates another method of coupling theactuators 302, 304 to the combine's hydraulic system. The hydrauliccircuit of FIG. 30 is identical to the circuit of FIG. 29 except thatfirst and second open/close valves 516, 518 are disposed along thecylinder feed lines 508, 510. By inserting the valves 516, 518, eachwing of the cylinder is able to raise and lower independently of theother wing.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that although theforgoing disclosure is particularly directed toward a corn header, theteachings herein could be applied to any row crop header. Furthermore,those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that although thepreferred pivot assembly disclosed and illustrated herein utilizes twolaterally spaced pins disposed along the center axis of the header, thepivot assembly may be disposed anywhere along the length of the header,or there may be multiple pivot assemblies disposed along the length ofthe header. Additionally, those of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that the pivot assembly may comprise a single pivot pinsupporting two rotatable bushings as opposed to two parallel pins eachsupporting a rotatable bushing. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill inthe art will appreciate that the header may utilize a single actuator toraise and lower the header sections together or independently.

The foregoing description is presented to enable one of ordinary skillin the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the contextof a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications tothe preferred embodiment of the apparatus, and the general principlesand features of the system and methods described herein will be readilyapparent to those of skill in the art. Thus, the present invention isnot to be limited to the embodiments of the apparatus, system andmethods described above and illustrated in the drawing figures, but isto be accorded the widest scope consistent with the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of harvesting a row crop in afield with a harvester having a row crop header mounted to a forward endof the harvester, the row crop header having a first header sectionpivotally coupled to a second header section about a pivot axis, thepivot axis extending forwardly to rearwardly in a direction parallelwith a forward direction of travel, each of the first and second headersections having a plurality of forwardly extending, transversely spacedsnouts, at least one hydraulic cylinder operably coupled to the firstand second header sections, the at least one hydraulic cylinder coupledto a hydraulic system of the harvester, the method comprising: as theharvester advances through the field in the forward direction of travelharvesting the row crop and with each of the snouts extending betweenthe two adjacent rows of the row crop, pivoting the first and secondheader sections relative to one another about the pivot axis byactuating the hydraulic cylinder.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thestep of pivoting the first and second header sections relative to oneanother about the pivot axis includes pivoting each of the first andsecond header sections upwardly about the pivot axis by actuating thehydraulic cylinder such that an outermost end of each of the first andsecond header sections is vertically above the pivot axis.
 3. The methodof claim 1, wherein the step of pivoting the first and second headersections relative to one another about the pivot axis includes pivotingeach of the first and second header sections downwardly about the pivotaxis by actuating the hydraulic cylinder such that an outermost end ofeach of the first and second header sections is vertically below thepivot axis.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of pivoting thefirst and second header sections relative to one another about the pivotaxis includes pivoting the first header section upwardly about the pivotaxis by actuating the hydraulic cylinder such that an outermost end ofthe first header section is vertically above the pivot axis while aposition of the second header section is generally unchanged relative tothe pivot axis.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of pivotingthe first and second header sections relative to one another about thepivot axis includes pivoting the first header section downwardly aboutthe pivot axis by actuating the hydraulic cylinder such that anoutermost end of the first header section is vertically below the pivotaxis while a position of the second header section is generallyunchanged relative to the pivot axis.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinthe step of pivoting the first and second header sections relative toone another about the pivot axis includes pivoting the second headersection upwardly about the pivot axis by actuating the hydrauliccylinder such that an outermost end of the second header section isvertically above the pivot axis while a position of the first headersection is generally unchanged relative to the pivot axis.
 7. The methodof claim 1, wherein the step of pivoting the first and second headersections relative to one another about the pivot axis includes pivotingthe second header section downwardly about the pivot axis by actuatingthe hydraulic cylinder such that an outermost end of the second headersection is vertically below the pivot axis while a position of the firstheader section is generally unchanged relative to the pivot axis.